DWTS 14 Week 6: Melissa Gilbert waltzes into sixth

Finally during Motown Week, Melissa Gilbert got a dance that suited her: the Viennese waltz. She and Maksim Chmerkovskiy received eights from all three judges and was able to squeak by to be one point ahead of Disney star Roshon Fegan and his partner Chelsie Hightower.

Prior to this, Gilbert had danced the salsa, paso doble, jive, quickstep and cha cha cha. Head judge Len Goodman lamented that she hadn’t been given something that might bring out her graceful and elegant side. This week with the old world grace of the Viennese waltz Gilbert and Chmerkovskiy were able to again receive a 24. She received a 24 during Week 3 (Personal Story Week) when she jived to “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence and the Machine and was in a five-way tie for last place.

This week a 24 was good enough for sixth place, above Roshon Fegan and Chelsie Hightower who received a 24 for their rumba and above Gladys Knight and her partner Tristan MacManus who also rumbaed for a 21.

Gilbert and Chmerkovskiy danced to “Ooo Baby Baby” sung live by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. She was dressed in a flowing green dress. At times she looked more relaxed, but she still has problems keeping her shoulders back and down. Usually the woman leans back with her shoulders down, but that’s a big strain on your back and besides her back surgery, remember Gilbert also had whiplash just two weeks ago and her neck must be slightly tweaked still.

Carrie Ann Inaba commented, “You work so hard and it is finally paying off. I see the artistry growing in you.”

Head judge Len Goodman said he saw rotation romance, beautiful lyrical musicality through the arms.

Bruno Tonioli commented on the wonderful rotation and exclaimed, “Some of your extended lines were absolutely wonderful.” All the judges seemed to feel that Gilbert was going in the right direction.

Only one other couple has danced the Viennese waltz: Fegan and Hightower during Week 4. They received a 26. This week Gilbert and Chmerkovskiy beat Fegan and Hightower in the individual dance scores and even during the cha cha cha for the Motown Marathon.

So far Gilbert hasn’t been in the bottom two and hopefully she won’t be in the bottom two this week because she hasn’t danced the jive yet. Gilbert and Chmerkovskiy received a 20 when they performed the quickstep during week 2–the week other teams were performing the jive.

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About Jana J. Monji

I've written for the Rafu Shimpo, LA Weekly, LA Times, Examiner.com and, more recently, the Pasadena Weekly and RogerEbert.com. I formerly worked for a dot-com more interested in yodeling than its customers.